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Effect of work duration on physiological and rating scale of perceived exertion responses during self‐paced interval training
Author(s) -
Seiler Stephen,
Sjursen Jarl Espen
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1046/j.1600-0838.2003.00353.x
Subject(s) - rating of perceived exertion , interval training , blood lactate , perceived exertion , medicine , physical therapy , duration (music) , heart rate , zoology , lactate threshold , interval (graph theory) , cardiology , mathematics , blood pressure , biology , art , literature , combinatorics
This study compared running velocity, physiological responses, and perceived exertion during self‐paced interval training bouts differing only in work bout duration. Twelve well‐trained runners (nine males, three females, 28±5 years, VO 2 max 65±6 mL min −1 kg −1 ) performed preliminary testing followed by four “high‐intensity” interval sessions (Latin squares, 1 session week −1 over 4 weeks) consisting of 24×1, 12×2, 6×4, or 4×6‐min running bouts with a 1:1 work‐to‐rest interval (total session duration 48 min). The average running velocity decreased (93%, 88%, 86%, 84% vVO 2 max , P<0.01) with increasing work duration. Peak VO 2 averaged about 92±4% of VO 2 max for 2‐, 4‐, and 6‐min intervals compared with only 82±5% for 1‐min bouts (P<0.001). Six of 12 athletes achieved their highest average VO 2 and heart rate during 4‐min intervals. The average RPE peak (rating scale of perceived exertion) was ∼17±1 for all four interval sessions. RPE increased by 2–4 U during an interval training session. The mean lactate concentration was similar across sessions (4.3±1.1–4.6±1.5 mmol L −1 ). Under self‐paced conditions, well‐trained runners perform “high‐intensity” intervals at an RPE of ∼17, independent of interval duration. The optimal interval duration for eliciting a high physiological load is 3–5 min under these training conditions. Increases in RPE during an interval bout are not associated with increasing blood lactate concentration.